Wireless charging and powering of healthcare gadgets and sensors

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides wireless charging and powering methods for healthcare gadgets and wireless sensors. The method may include wireless power transmission through suitable techniques such as pocket-forming. The methods may include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers. In some embodiments the transmitters and receivers may be embedded to medical devices and wireless sensors, respectively. In other embodiments, the receiver may be integrated into wireless sensors. In yet another embodiment, the transmitters may be positioned on strategic places so as to have a wider range for wireless power transmission to portable electronic medical devices and wireless sensors.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is related to U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 13/891,430 filed May 10, 2013, entitled“Methodology For Pocket-forming”; Ser. No. 13/925,469 filed Jun. 24,2013, entitled “Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming”; Ser. No.13/946,082 filed Jul. 19, 2013, entitled “Method for 3 DimensionalPocket-forming”; Ser. No. 13/891,399 filed May 10, 2013, entitled“Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission” and Ser. No. 13/891,445filed May 10, 2013, entitled “Transmitters For Wireless PowerTransmission”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein bythese references.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to wireless power transmission, and moreparticularly to wireless charging and powering methods for healthcaregadgets and sensors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The often large and cumbersome medical devices such as the ones used formeasurement (e.g., infrared electronic thermometer, blood pressuremonitor, blood glucose meter, pulse oximeter and ECG monitor) and otherssuch as ultrasound machines have become smaller in terms of dimensions,remain durable for a longer period of time, and are less expensive asthe electronic technology evolves to maturity. However, in order forthese devices to become portable they need to use batteries to get thepower they need to work. The constant use of these devices demandscharging their batteries more often. In hospitals or healthcare centersthis may be troublesome and inconvenient for the staff since they maynot have enough time to fully charge their healthcare gadgets.

Therefore, there is still a need for a method that allows portableelectronic medical devices to charge or power themselves in a wirelessfashion while using them and hence avoiding the need of cables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides wireless charging and powering methodsfor healthcare gadgets and wireless sensors. The method may include atype of transmitter which may be employed for sending Radio frequency(RF) signals to electronic devices, such as portable medical electronicdevices and wireless sensors. Portable medical electronic devices andwireless sensors may include a type of receiver embedded or attached toit for converting RF signals into suitable electricity for powering andcharging themselves. The technique employed may be known aspocket-forming and may be incorporated here by reference.

A first embodiment for providing wireless power to medical devices, maybe provided. In this embodiment, a transmitter may be located at theceiling of a living room or common area of a hospital and providewireless power transmission to a plurality of portable medicalelectronic devices.

A second embodiment for providing wireless power inside a recovery roomof a patient, may be provided. In this embodiment, a transmitter may belocated at the ceiling of a recovery room of a patient and providewireless power transmission to any portable medical electronic device,such as a tablet which may display the patient's records, that a doctor,nurse or any of the like, may be using to analyze the patient.

A third embodiment for providing wireless power to wireless sensors,which may be used for measuring physiological parameters of a patient,may be provided. In this embodiment, wireless sensors may communicatewith a plurality of medical devices wirelessly and at the same timecharge or power themselves by following the method described hereinknown as pocket-forming.

Numerous other aspects, features and benefits of the present disclosuremay be made apparent from the following detailed description takentogether with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and maynot be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing prior art, thefigures represent aspects of the present disclosure. The main featuresand advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood withthe following descriptions, claims, and drawings, where:

FIG. 1 illustrates a component level embodiment for a transmitter,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a component level embodiment for a receiver,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates two embodiments of medical electronic devices whichmay include a receiver, as the one described in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first embodiment for providing wireless power toportable medical electronic devices, based on pocket-forming.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment for providing wireless power toportable medical electronic devices, based on pocket-forming.

FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment for providing wireless power towireless sensors used for measuring physiological parameters of apatient, based on pocket-forming.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Definitions

“Pocket-forming” may refer to generating two or more RF waves whichconverge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructiveinterference patterns.

“Pockets of energy” may refer to areas or regions of space where energyor power may accumulate in the form of constructive interferencepatterns of RF waves.

“Null-space” may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets ofenergy do not form because of destructive interference patterns of RFwaves.

“Transmitter” may refer to a device, including a chip which may generatetwo or more RF signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted andgain adjusted with respect to other RF signals, substantially all ofwhich pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RF signalsare directed to a target.

“Receiver” may refer to a device including at least one antenna element,at least one rectifying circuit and at least one power converter, whichmay utilize pockets of energy for powering, or charging an electronicdevice.

“Adaptive pocket-forming” may refer to dynamically adjustingpocket-forming to regulate power on one or more targeted receivers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, whichmay not be to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identifysimilar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrativeembodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims,are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or andother changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a transmitter 100 that can be used for pocketforming. In this embodiment, transmitter 100 may be used to providewireless power transmission. Transmitter 100 may include a housing 102having at least two or more antenna elements 104, at least one RFintegrated circuit (RFIC 106), at least one digital signal processor(DSP) or micro-controller 108, and one communications component 110.Housing 102 can be made of any suitable material which may allow forsignal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic orhard rubber. Antenna elements 104 may include suitable antenna types foroperating in frequency bands such as 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz or 5.8 GHz asthese frequency bands conform to Federal Communications Commission (FCC)regulations part 18 (Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipment).Antenna elements 104 may include vertical or horizontal polarization,right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or othersuitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations.Suitable antenna types may include, for example, patch antennas withheights from about 1/24 inches to about 1 inch and widths from about1/24 inches to about 1 inch. Micro-controller 108 may then processinformation sent by a receiver through communications component 110 fordetermining optimum times and locations for pocket-forming.Communications component 110 may be based on standard wirelesscommunication protocols which may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ZigBee. Inaddition, communications component 110 may be used to transfer otherinformation such as an identifier for the device or user, battery level,location or other such information. Other communications component 110may be possible which may include radar, infrared cameras or sounddevices for sonic triangulation for determining the device's position.,

FIG. 2 shows an example of a receiver 200 that can be used forpocket-forming. In this embodiment, receiver 200 may be used forpowering or charging an electronic device. Receiver 200 may also includea housing 202 having at least one antenna element 204, one rectifier206, one power converter 208 and one or more communications component210. Housing 202 can be made of any suitable material which may allowfor signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic orhard rubber. Housing 202 may be an external hardware that may be addedto different electronic equipment, for example in the form of cases, orcan be embedded within electronic equipment as well. Antenna element 204may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands suchas those described for transmitter 100 from FIG. 1. Antenna element 204may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left handpolarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizationsas well as suitable polarization combinations. Using multiplepolarizations can be beneficial in devices where there may not be apreferred orientation during usage or whose orientation may varycontinuously through time, for example a smartphone or portable gamingsystem. On the contrary, for devices with well-defined orientations, forexample a two-handed video game controller, there might be a preferredpolarization for antennas which may dictate a ratio for the number ofantennas of a given polarization.

Suitable antenna types may include patch antennas with heights fromabout 1/24 inches to about 1 inch and widths from about 1/24 inches toabout 1 inch. Patch antennas may have the advantage that polarizationmay depend on connectivity, Le, depending on which side the patch isfed, the polarization may change. This may further prove advantageous asa receiver, such as receiver 200, may dynamically modify its antennapolarization to optimize wireless power transmission. Rectifier 206 mayinclude diodes or resistors, inductors or capacitors to rectify thealternating current (AC) voltage generated by antenna element 204 todirect current (DC) voltage. Rectifier 206 may be placed as close as istechnically possible to antenna element 204 to minimize losses. Afterrectifying AC voltage, DC voltage may be regulated using power converter208. Power converter 208 can be a DC-DC converter which may help providea constant voltage output, regardless of input, to an electronic device,or as in this embodiment to a battery 212. Typical voltage outputs canbe from about 5 volts to about 10 volts.

In some embodiments, power converter 208 may include electronic switchedmode DC-DC converters which can provide high efficiency. In such a case,a capacitor (not shown) may be included before power converter 208 toensure sufficient current is provided for the switching device tooperate. When charging an electronic device, for example a phone orlaptop computer, initial high currents which can break-down theoperation of an electronic switched mode DC-DC converter may berequired. In such a case, a capacitor (not shown) may be added at theoutput of receiver 200 to provide the extra energy required. Afterwards,lower power can be provided, for example 1/80 of the total initial powerwhile having the phone or laptop still build-up charge. Lastly, acommunications component 210 may be included in receiver 200 tocommunicate with a transmitter or to other electronic equipment. Such acommunications component 210 may be based on standard wirelesscommunication protocols which may include Bluetooth, WI-Fi or ZigBeesimilar to communications component 110 from transmitter 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates two embodiments of portable electronic medicaldevices 300 which may include a receiver 200, as the one described inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3A then shows a first embodiment where a portable medicalelectronic device such as a blood glucose meter 302 may include areceiver 200, as the one described in FIG. 2. Receiver 200 may beembedded or attached in the back side of blood glucose meter 302.Receiver 200 may include an array of antenna elements 204 strategicallydistributed on the grid area shown in FIG. 3A. The number and type ofantenna elements 204 may be calculated according to the blood glucosemeter 302's design.

FIG. 3B shows a second embodiment where a portable medical electronicdevice such as portable ultrasound machine 304 may include a receiver200, as the one described in FIG. 2. Receiver 200 may be embedded on thefront and sides of portable ultrasound machine 304. Receiver 200 mayinclude an array of antenna elements 204 strategically distributed onthe grid area shown in FIG. 3B. The number and type of antenna elements204 may be calculated according to the portable ultrasound machine 304'sdesign.

The above described may not be limited to portable electronic medicaldevices 300 that is shown in FIG. 3. Receiver 200 may also be includedin a plurality of medical electronic devices such as infrared electronicthermometer, electronic pads like tablets, blood pressure monitor, bloodglucose meter, pulse oximeter, and ECG among others. The number and typeof antenna elements 204 may calculated according the medical electronicdevice's design.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first embodiment for providing wireless powertransmission 400 to portable electronic medical devices 300, based onpocket-forming. Transmitter 100 may be located at the ceiling of aliving room pointing downwards, and may transmit controlled Radio RFwaves 402 which may converge in 3-d space. These Radio frequencies (RF)waves 402 may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitudeadjustments to form constructive and destructive interference patterns(pocket-forming). Pockets of energy 404 may be formed at constructiveinterference patterns and can be 3-dimensional in shape whereasnull-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. Areceiver 200, embedded or attached to portable electronic medicaldevices 300, may then utilize pockets of energy 404 produced bypocket-forming for charging or powering these devices, and thuseffectively providing wireless power transmission 400.

In an embodiment, transmitter 100 may include a housing 102 where atleast two or more antenna elements 104, at least one RF integratedcircuit (MC 106), at least one digital signal processor (DSP) ormicro-controller 108, and one communications component 110 may beincluded. Transmitter 100 may also include a local oscillator chip forconverting alternating current (AC) power to analog RF signals. Such RFsignals may firstly be phase and gain adjusted through an RFIC 106proprietary chip, and then converted to RF waves 402 via antennaelements 104. On the other hand, receiver 200 may include a housing 202where at least one antenna element 204, at least one rectifier 206 andat least one power converter 208 may be included. Receiver 200 maycommunicate with transmitter 100 through short RF waves 402 or pilotsignals sent through antenna elements 204. In some embodiments, receiver200 may include an optional communications device for communicating onstandard wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi orZigbee with transmitter 100. In some embodiments, receiver 200 may beimplemented externally to medical electronic devices in the form ofcases, e.g. tablet cases, phone cases and the like which may connectthrough suitable and well known in the art techniques such as universalserial bus (USB). In other embodiments, receiver 200 may be embeddedwithin electronic devices.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment for providing wireless powertransmission 500 to portable electronic medical devices 300, based onpocket-forming. In this embodiment, transmitter 100 may be locatedinside a recovery room, more specifically transmitter 100 may be fixedat the ceiling of the recovery room of a patient. Doctor 502 may use aportable electronic medical device 300 such as a tablet where be maycheck the patient's record and do other medical tasks. Transmitter 100may then produce controlled RF waves 504 and send them to portableelectronic medical device 300, which may include a receiver 200 eitherembedded or attached to it, as the one described in FIG. 2. ControlledRF waves 504 may then create pockets of energy 506 on receiver 200.Receiver 200 may convert pockets of energy 506 to generate charge orpower to portable electronic medical device 300.

The embodiment described above may be limited for rooms where patientsdo not have a pacemaker. The controlled RF waves 504 may interfere ordamage the functioning of those type of devices because of theelectromagnetic fields.

FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment for providing wireless powertransmission 600 to wireless sensors 602 which may be used for measuringphysiological parameters of a patient. In this embodiment, multipletransmitters 100 attached or embedded to medical devices 604 may providecontrolled RF waves 606 to wireless sensors 602. Controlled RF waves 606may then create pockets of energy 608 on receivers 200, which may beintegrated in wireless sensors 602. Receivers 200 may then convertpockets of energy 506 to generate charge or power to wireless sensors602.

The embodiment described above may be limited for rooms where patientsdo not have a pacemaker. The controlled RF waves 606 may interfere ordamage the functioning of those type of devices because of theelectromagnetic fields.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects andembodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and arenot intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit beingindicated by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:
 1. A method for wirelesstransmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor, themethod comprising: generating pocket forming power radio frequency (RF)signals from a RF circuit embedded within a transmitter connected to apower source; generating communication signals from a communicationcircuit embedded within the transmitter, wherein the transmittercomprises a communication antenna configured to transmit and receivecommunications signals to and from a receiver coupled to an electronicdevice, wherein the electronic device is a medical device or a sensor;controlling the generated power RF signals and the communication signalswith a digital signal processor coupled to the transmitter; transmittingthe power RF signals by at least two antennas electrically connected tothe RF circuit within the transmitter; wherein an antenna of thereceiver is configured to capture energy from the pocket of energyproduced by the pocket-forming power RF signals in converging in 3-Dspace, and wherein the receiver is configured to convert the energy intoa DC voltage for charging or powering the medical device or the sensorcoupled to the receiver; and transmitting, by the communication circuitof the transmitter, instructions in the communication signals to thereceiver to generate location data, power requirements, and timing data;and receiving, by the communication circuit, the communications signalsfrom the receiver, wherein the communication signals received from thereceiver provide an optimum time and location data indicating thelocation associated with the electronic device coupled to the receiverfor converging the power RF signals to form the pocket of energy in 3-Dspace at the location.
 2. The method for wireless transmission of powerto an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein thepocket-forming transmitter is centrally located in a recovery room,operating room, patient room, emergency room or common area of ahospital for charging the electronic medical device or the sensor. 3.The method for wireless transmission of power to an electronic medicaldevice or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas of thetransmitter are located on a ceiling in a room for charging theelectronic device.
 4. The method for wireless transmission of power toan electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein theelectronic medical device or the sensor is selected from the groupconsisting of: a portable blood glucose meter, portable ultrasoundmachine, infrared electronic thermometer, electronic pads withelectronic medical records, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, andportable EKG.
 5. The method for wireless transmission of power to anelectronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the digitalprocessor and the RF circuit of the transmitter control the power RFwaves through phase and relative amplitude adjustments to formconstructive interference patterns to form the pocket of energy in the3-D space.
 6. The method for wireless transmission of power to anelectronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the receiveris embedded or attached to the electronic device.
 7. The method forwireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or asensor of claim 1, wherein the at least two antennas in the transmitterand the antenna of the receiver operate in the frequency range of 900MHz to 5.8 GHz.
 8. The method for wireless transmission of power to anelectronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, further comprisinggenerating multiple pockets of energy from a plurality of antennas ofthe transmitter, wherein the plurality of antennas of the transmitterincludes the at least two antennas of the transmitter, and whereinantennas of the plurality of antennas is configured to transmit a powerRF signal.
 9. The method for wireless transmission of power to anelectronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, wherein the digitalsignal processor is a microprocessor or microcontroller controlling theRF circuit and the communication circuit.
 10. The method for wirelesstransmission of power to an electronic medical device or a sensor ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of communicating between the sensorreceiver and the transmitter through the communication signals using oneor more wireless communication protocols, including a wirelesscommunication protocol selected from the group consisting of: Bluetooth,Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and FM radio signals.
 11. The wireless transmission ofpower to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 1, whereinthe receiver is embedded or attached on a front or a side of a portableultrasound machine.
 12. A wireless transmission system providing powerto an electronic medical device or a sensor, the system comprising: apocket-forming transmitter coupled to a power source and comprising: aplurality of antennas configured to transmit a plurality of power RFwaves that converge in three-dimensional (3-D) space to form acontrolled constructive interference pattern that generates a pocket ofenergy at a location of a receiver coupled to an electronic device,wherein the electronic device is a medical device or a sensor; and acommunication circuit configured to transmit and receive communicationsignals to and from the receiver coupled to the electronic device,wherein an antenna of the receiver is configured capture energy from thepocket of energy and convert the energy into a DC voltage for chargingor powering a battery in the electronic, and device wherein at least aportion of communications signals received by the communication circuitof the transmitter from the receiver provides time data and locationdata indicating the location of the receiver and a time to transmit thepower RF waves to the location of the receiver for converging the powerRF waves to form the pocket of energy in 3-D space at the location. 13.The wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or asensor of claim 12, wherein the pocket-forming transmitter is centrallylocated in a medical facility or patient room to power or charge thebattery in multiple portable electronic medical devices or sensors. 14.The wireless transmission of power to an electronic medical device or asensor of claim 12, wherein at least two antennas of the plurality ofantennas of the pocket-forming transmitter are located on a ceiling of aroom to power or charge the battery.
 15. The wireless transmission ofpower to an electronic medical device or a sensor of claim 12, whereinthe receiver is embedded or attached in a back side of a blood glucosemeter or blood pressure monitor.
 16. A system for wireless powertransmission to an electronic medical device, the system comprising: aportable transmitter comprising: at least two or more antenna elementsconfigured to transmit a plurality of radio frequency (RF) power wavesthat converge to form controlled constructive interference patterns inthree-dimensional (3-D) space to generate a pocket of energy at alocation of a receiver coupled to an electronic device, wherein theelectronic device is a medical device or a sensor; at least one RFintegrated circuit configured to generate the plurality of RF powerwaves; at least one digital signal processor configured to control theRF integrated circuit and an communication circuit; and thecommunication circuit configured to transmit and receive communicationsignals to and from the receiver, wherein the communication circuitreceives from the receiver at least one communication signal providingtime data indicating a time to transmit the RF power waves and locationdata indicating the location of the receiver for converging the power RFsignals to form the pocket of energy in 3-D space at the location of thereceiver wherein the receiver is configured to capture energy from thepocket of energy and convert the energy into DC voltage to charge orpower the electronic device coupled to the receiver, and wherein thecommunication circuit is configured to transmit instructions in thecommunication signals to the receiver to generate the location data andthe time data.
 17. The system for wireless power transmission to anelectronic medical device of claim 16, wherein the communication circuitof the transmitter is configured to communicate with a communicationcircuit of the receiver using a wireless communication protocol selectedfrom the group consisting of Bluetooth, infrared, Wi-Fi, FM radio, andZigbee.
 18. The system for wireless power transmission to an electronicmedical device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of antennas of thetransmitter further includes at least one type of antenna elementselected from the group consisting of a flat antenna element, a patchantenna, and a dipole antenna element, and wherein at least one antennaelement of the plurality antennas has a height ranging fromapproximately 1/24 inches to about 1 inch, and a width fromapproximately 1/24 inches to about 1 inch.
 19. The system for wirelesspower transmission to an electronic medical device of claim 16, whereinthe plurality of antennas of the transmitter operate in a frequencyrange of 900 MHz to 5.8 GHz.
 20. The system for wireless powertransmission to an electronic medical device of claim 16, wherein atleast two antennas of the plurality of antennas of the transmitteroperate in independent frequencies that allow a multichannel operationof pocket-forming in a single array, pair array, or quad array.
 21. Thesystem for wireless power transmission to an electronic medical deviceof claim 16, wherein the plurality of antennas of the transmitterinclude a polarization selected from the group consisting of: verticalpole, horizontal, circularly polarized, left hand polarized, and righthand polarized.